Giants' Gary Brightwell: Could be challenged by rookie
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Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray figure to compete for the No. 3 running back role behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.
Barkley has yet to sign his franchise tag or work out a contract extension with the organization, but he figures to be a workhorse again during the upcoming campaign. Breida was a good fit as the No. 2 ball-carrier last season and was brought back for 2023 presumably to fill the same role, leaving Brightwell and Gray to compete for the limited snaps that remain. Brightwell averaged a healthy 4.5 yards per carry last year and also worked as the team's lead kickoff returner, but Carroll notes that Gray offers "a needed injection of youth" to the running-back room. Should the rookie impress during camp and preseason action, he could feasibly move ahead of Brightwell on the depth chart.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Leading rusher in Week 18
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Brightwell carried the ball 11 times for 60 yards and caught one of three targets for three yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles.
With Saquon Barkley inactive in a relatively meaningless game for the Giants, Brightwell wound up being the team's leading rusher. The 60 yards were also a new career high for the 2021 sixth-round pick, and if somehow the team doesn't re-sign Barkley in the offseason or bring in a high-profile replacement, Brightwell could have a much more significant role in 2023.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Sees just one snap Week 16
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Brightwell lost one yard on his only carry and returned one kickoff for 26 yards in a loss to the Vikings on Saturday.
After failing to record any offensive snaps against Washington in Week 15, Brightwell got one snap Saturday, but he lost a yard on a first-down carry in the first quarter. His role as the team's kick returner boosts his importance to New York, but Brightwell shouldn't be expected to be a fantasy producer while lead back Saquon Barkley (63 snaps Saturday) and No. 2 ball carrier Matt Breida (11 snaps) are healthy.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Loses role on offense
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Brightwell did not log any offensive snaps in New York's Week 15 win over the Commanders. He played on 15 special-teams snaps and tallied 21 yards on his lone kickoff return.
With Saquon Barkley limited last week against the Eagles, Brightwell saw a season-high 21 offensive snaps and tallied 41 total yards. However, Barkley was back at full strength Sunday, pushing Brightwell out of the offense entirely. Matt Breida looks to have a secure hold on the minimal backup touches behind Barkley, so Brightwell could be in line for more games like this one during which he works exclusively as a special teamer.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets increased work in Week 14 loss
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Brightwell gained 23 yards on five carries and secured two of three targets for 18 yards in a loss to Philadelphia in Week 14. He added three kick returns for 58 yards.
Brightwell didn't log an offensive snap against Washington in Week 13, but he tallied 21 against the Eagles on Sunday. That was partly due to Saquon Barkley's limitations due to a neck injury and partly due to the Giants getting routed in the contest. It was nonetheless revealing that Brightwell logged just two fewer snaps than presumed No. 2 back Matt Breida, and Brightwell was the far more productive player with 41 total yards to Breida's 15. Neither backup ball carrier has fantasy value as long as Barkley is healthy, but if the bell-cow starter is unable to move past his neck injury and is forced to miss time, both Breida and Brightwell would have some intrigue as fantasy pickups.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Limited to return duties
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Brightwell did not log any offensive snaps in Sunday's 20-20 tie with Washington, but he gained 44 yards on two kick returns.
Brightwell entered the weekend with a questionable tag due to an illness. He was ultimately able to play against Washington but did not garner any snaps on offense for the first time since Week 10. Brightwell had seen his most action of the campaign on Thanksgiving, totaling 31 yards on five carries and 18 yards on two catches against Dallas. He's yet to log more than 10 offensive snaps in any game this season, and his value to the Giants is primarily as a kick returner.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Will play Sunday
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Brightwell (illness) is active Sunday against the Commanders.
Brightwell closed out the week with back-to-back limited practices, and he's good to go Week 13 against Washington. He saw an increased role in Week 12's loss to the Cowboys, which may be worth monitoring to see if it carries over to today.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Deemed questionable for Sunday
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Brightwell (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against Washington, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Brightwell didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, but he's logged back-to-back limited sessions to end Week 13 prep and has a chance to suit up Sunday. The backup running back saw a career-high seven touches during the Giants' Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas, but if Brightwell is deemed available against Washington, it's unclear if he'll match that type of usage while operating behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Under the weather
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Brightwell is dealing with an illness Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell is coming off a season-high five carries for 31 yards, as well as two catches on two targets for 18 yards in Week 12's loss to the Cowboys. With no one behind Brightwell on the team's positional depth chart, a promotion from the team's practice squad may be in order, if he is unable to suit up Sunday against the Commanders.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets expanded role Thursday
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Brightwell rushed five times for 31 yards and caught both of his targets for 18 yards in a Thanksgiving loss to Dallas.
Brightwell came into Thursday with just four carries on the campaign and none since Week 5. The second-year back exceeded that season total against the Cowboys, and he added his first two receptions (on his first two targets) of the season. Brightwell did well with the opportunity, ripping off a 15-yard gain on his second carry, following that with an 11-yard rush and later adding carries of four and six yards, respectively, on consecutive plays to single-handedly give New York a first down. Saquon Barkley remained the bell cow in the contest with 15 touches and 44 offensive snaps, and Matt Breida saw his usual level of involvement with three touches and 16 snaps to Brightwell's 10. That suggests that Brightwell still is the third ball-carrying option on the team, though his effectiveness Thursday could lead the Giants to start giving him more looks.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets into end zone Sunday
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Brightwell rushed twice for five yards and scored a touchdown in a 27-22 win over the Packers on Sunday. He also returned three kickoffs for 56 yards.
When Saquon Barkley briefly departed with a shoulder injury during a Giants drive that ran from the end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth, both Brightwell and Matt Breida got to see more time than usual on the field. Brightwell logged two carries during the drive and helped New York tie the score 20-20 with a two-yard run into the end zone. With just four carries and no receiving targets through five weeks, it's clear that Brightwell isn't going to be asked to do much aside from returning kickoffs as long as the two running backs ahead of him are healthy.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets one touch in Week 2
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Brightwell rushed once for 14 yards and was not targeted in the passing game during a 19-16 victory versus the Panthers on Sunday.
Brightwell was in on only one offensive snap in the contest, but he made the most of it with a 14-yard rush in a third-and-one situation in the fourth quarter. The carry moved New York past midfield and helped set up Graham Gano's game-deciding 56-yard field goal. In addition to the one carry, Brightwell logged 17 snaps on special teams, which is where he figures to make most of his impact this season.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Full participant Wednesday
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Brightwell (undisclosed) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was sidelined for the Giants' second preseason contest but returned to action for the finale and will be good to go for the regular-season opener. The second-year return man is expected to operate as a depth running back behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, but he'll get most of his snaps on special teams.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Won't play against Bengals
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Brightwell won't play in Sunday's preseason matchup against the Bengals, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Both Brightwell and Matt Breida (undisclosed) will be held out against Cincinnati, so Antonio Williams and Jashaun Corbin should have increased opportunities in the Giants' backfield. Brightwell will try to return for the team's final game of the preseason Aug. 28 against the Jets.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Could get big opportunity Thursday
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Brightwell figures to see plenty of action in Thursday's preseason opener versus New England, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
No. 2 running back Matt Breida is dealing with an undisclosed injury and isn't expected to play Thursday, and Saquon Barkley will likely see very limited snaps. That should leave lots of room for youngsters Antonio Williams, Jashaun Corbin and Brightwell to show off their skills. Brightwell was listed as the third-string running back on the Giants' first unofficial depth chart, but Williams has more often been receiving those reps during camp. Only one of Brightwell, Williams and Corbin may make the 53-man roster.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Participates in minicamp
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Brightwell (neck) was a participant in the Giants' voluntary minicamp Wednesday.
Brightwell ended last season on IR after suffering a neck injury in Week 15 against the Cowboys. The 2021 sixth-round selection saw little work on offense during his rookie campaign, getting one carry for four yards and one reception on one target for six yards in 13 games. Instead Brightwell was a consistent contributor on special teams, a role he'll likely continue this upcoming season.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Unavailable Sunday
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Brightwell (neck) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell suffered the neck injury last week against the Cowboys and will be sidelined for at least one game. Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Devontae Booker are the only other running backs on the active roster, so the Giants could add a back from the practice squad for depth purposes this weekend.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: No practice Wednesday
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Brightwell (neck) is not participating in Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell suffered a neck injury in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Cowboys and did not retake the field. The special-teams contributor will have two more chances to practice ahead of Week 16's road matchup against the Eagles.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Suffers neck injury
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Brightwell is questionable to return after suffering a neck injury in Sunday's game against Dallas, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell suffered the injury in the first half on a special teams play. He has recorded only one rushing attempt and one reception across 12 games this season, so his absence isn't likely to have a major effect on the Giants' offense.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Returns from COVID list
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Brightwell was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Dan Duggan of The Athletic confirms that Brightwell actually tested positive for COVID-19, but the rookie running back has evidently recovered. If any lingering effects of the virus don't prevent Brightwell from suiting up Monday in Tampa Bay, his role will depend on the health of Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Devontae Booker (hip), who are both well above Brightwell in New York's backfield pecking order when healthy.
